LET’S STITCH
Sewing makes comeback one stitch at a time BY MEGAN WEHRING
“We laugh about quarantine quilts. There were so many quilts finished during this time. People were pulling out their stash of fabrics, ordering what they needed to go with it and making quilt after quilt.
“There were so many quilts finished during this time. From protective face masks People were pulling out their to home decor projects, stash of fabrics, ordering what sewing is back in full swing. they needed to go with it and Local fabric stores are seeing making quilt after quilt. I neva new boom in business while er had so many quilts to quilt more people dust off their old for people.” sewing machines. Right behind the fabric –Linda Hasselberg, owner of the Wimberley Stitch Studio While some businesses were shop lives the newly conhit with turmoil, the Wimberstructed Turquoise Treasure be creative.” can see the hills across from ley Stitch Studio has stayed retreat. The retreat offers In the small town of Wimyou and the scenery is just busy with the hustle and comfortable sleeping arrangebustle of customers during the berley, nestled in western Hays spectacular.” ments for up to 8 people, County on 8.5 acres, the shop Offering about 3,000 bolts of while still allowing visitors to pandemic. sits at about 2,500 square feet fabric, customers have a wide perfect their craft. “We are as busy as we were with a newly built addition. selection to choose from for before the pandemic, if not Hasselberg said what start“You feel like you are out any project. Hasselberg said busier,” Linda Hasselberg, ed out as a pure pipe dream in the middle of nothing,” homemade face masks conbusiness owner, said. “There has now turned into a little Hasselberg said. “It’s so open tinue to be the sewing project paradise for many crafters to are so many people who are of choice, especially using sewing now that are hungry to with all of the oak trees. You enjoy. themed fabrics. “Quilt retreats are big for “I can’t tell you how many quilters,” Hasselberg said. thousands of yards of elastic “There’s a lot of people that, we sold for masks, as well several times a year, will book Linda Hasselberg as interfacing and fabric,” quilt retreats. They will come of the Stitch Studio Hasselberg said. “Now people in and either have a teacher shows off some of are coming in to pick out their that will teach them or they their fall patterns. own fabrics. We’ve got people will just come in and work on coming in to pick out fabric their own projects.” for back to school, Halloween Working from home is the and Christmas.” new normal, thus causing With 40 years of quilting many people to turn to DIY experience, Hasselberg said projects to keep them occuthe pandemic has encouraged pied. From gardening to conher, along with many others, structing home decor or even to polish their quilting skills sewing a quilt, Hasselberg now more than ever before. said “throw[ing] yourself into “We laugh about quaransomething you love makes life tine quilts,” Hasselberg said. easier.” 8 | Hays County Echo | Fall 2020
